State of Grace / Ned Stark

8. Spunky

"I like Arya she is spunky." Grace remarked. 

"She is trouble. Sansa is a sweet little Dove." Cersei corrected as Arya flung mashed potatoes at her sister. "As I said, trouble." 

"Yeah, she reminds me of me." Grace agreed. 

"Dont you dare!" Cersei shrilled as Grace put a load of potatoes in her spoon. "Gracie Rose Lannister!"  Grace giggled out putting the spoon in her mouth. She dragged it from her lips as Ned approached the table. 

"Excuse me, off to cause some trouble." Grace whispered. 

"My lady, I was promised a dance." Ned remarked extending his hand for her. 

"That you were, and I am happy to deliver." Grace agreed and he spun her to him. 

The sad thing about dancing with Ned was that she could see a future with him. She could see love and happiness and fucking the nights away, she could see children and growing old but he was already married but as he held her, she was able to push out all the reasons they were never going to work and focus on the fantasy that she was creating in her mind. 

"Auntie-" 

Grace didnt know how long she danced with Ned before little Tommen smiled up at her pulling on her dress. 

"Hi honey," Grace coed. 

"I'm tired." Tommen remarked and Grace glanced to Cersei, she needed this party more than Grace did. Being married to Robert, Grace didnt know how Cersei wasnt always drunk when dealing with Robert. 

"I will bring you back." Grace agreed as Tommen grabbed her hand. 

"I will walk with you." Ned offered. 

"I would love that because I'm going to get lost." Grace agreed. "And might need you to stroke my fire again."

"Yes." Was all Ned could say. 

Ned waited outside the door as Grace tucked in Tommen getting him ready for bed and blowing out the candles, kissing him goodnight, a small smile filled his face as he listened to how sweet she was with Tommen. How patient she was when he asked for another story and wanted her to leave one candle on and needed to know where she was sleeping in case he had a nightmare. 

Catelyn was not the person Bran or Rickon ran to when they had a nightmare, it was Jon or Robb or Ned. He loved how close his boys were. Loved that they treated Jon like family unlike Catelyn. Catelyn also wasnt patient, she was quick to temper and brought out the worst in ned and possibly vice versa. Catelyn brought out the worst in him too. 

''Ned! Ned!' Catelyn said running in towards him. Ned turned back to her trying to keep his jaw from clenching. 'I just got word from the Eyrie, from my sister. Lysa said Lord Aryn was murdered by the Lannister's!' she hissed. 'that means that King is in danger!''

"Oh, excuse me." Grace remarked looking between them and Catelyn scowled at her. "I was just... dont fight in front of Tommen's door, he gets nightmares easily." Grace offered as she walked through them. "Goodnight lord Stark." 

"Lannisters." Catelyn hissed glaring at Grace as she headed down the hall. 

''She is a fresh widow Catelyn, she does not know what she's saying.' Ned assured her letting out a huff of a breath.

'Lysa's head would be on a spike right now if the wrong people had found out Ned!' Catelyn exclaimed why wasn't he taking her seriously, why was his mind elsewhere, his eyes drifting around the halls, after Grace Lannister. ''Do you think she would risk her life? Her son's life? To risk telling us that her husband was murdered?''

This was the longest conversation he had had with Catelyn in a long time and of course she was screaming at him. He resisted the urge to rub his temple she was already giving him a migraine.

'If this news is true and the Lannister's are conspiring against the throne who but you can protect the king' maester Lewin said coming up behind them.

''They murdered the last Hand,' catelyn reminded him 'now you wanted to take the job?'' she countered incredulously. 

''They traveled a month to ask for Ned Starks help. He is the only one he trusts. He swore the oath.'' Lewin reminded Catelyn.

''He spent half his life fighting in Roberts wars he owes him nothing!' she spat. ''Your father and Brother Road South once on the kings demand.' 

'A different time,' Ned reminded them. ''a different King.''

"Ned!" Catelyn demanded. 

''Robert is in danger that means,' Ned said softly thinking it through, "I have to go. I'm the only one who trusts. I'm the only one that can protect him.'' Grace wasnt a killer, she was sweet and caring and even if her siblings were monsters Ned knew completely without a doubt that Grace was good.